Apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in shooting a basketball

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for teaching proper technique in shooting a basketball includes a generally V-shaped member having a first leg portion engageable with an inner surface of an index finger and a second leg portion engageable with an inner surface of a middle finger for spreading such index and middle fingers apart. A first generally cylindrical C-shaped member is connected along one edge thereof to an edge of the first leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof and has a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of the first leg portion for adjusting to a finger size of a user. A second generally cylindrical C-shaped member is connected along one edge thereof to an edge of such second leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof. The second C-shaped member also includes a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of the second leg portion for adjusting to a finger size of a user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/784,328 filed Mar. 21, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to teaching aids for sports and, more particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball for shooting purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, various types of devices are commercially available on the market for assisting in teaching various aspects of numerous sports including basketball as well as at least golf, baseball and football.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,381 teaches a sports glove which claims to be particularly suited for being worn on a player's hand to facilitate ball handling as in basketball handling. The device includes resilient finger positioning members mounted on the glove in positions which tend to splay all of the fingers of the players hand.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,979 teaches a basketball shooting trainer device for teaching a user to correctly shoot and release a basketball. Such device includes a piece of material having a top edge and a bottom edge that is adapted to removably cover a back of the user's basketball shooting hand. The device also includes tubular finger members extending from the top edge of the piece of material to fittingly receive a user's fingers. The device also has a finger wedge attached to the piece of material for keeping the user's middle two fingers spread apart. Additionally, there is a support member attached to the material. Further, there is a strap assembly attached to the bottom edge of the material which is adapted to removably fasten about a user's wrist to support the material upon the user's basketball shooting hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball. Such apparatus includes a generally V-shaped member having a concave surface on a first leg portion which is engageable with an inner surface of an index finger and a concave surface on a second leg portion that is engageable with an inner surface of a middle finger for spreading apart such index and middle fingers. A first generally cylindrical C-shaped member is connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge of the first leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof. This first generally cylindrical C-shaped member includes a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of such first leg portion adjacent the outer edge thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a user. A final essential element is a second generally cylindrical C-shaped member which is connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge of the second leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof. The second generally cylindrical C-shaped member having a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of such second leg portion adjacent the outer edge thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a user.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball which is relatively light weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball which is comfortable to wear.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball which can be made from a variety of materials.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball which can be manufactured in a variety of colors.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the generally cylindrical members illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention of the apparatus in use on a person's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-4. Illustrated therein is a presently preferred embodiment of an apparatus, generally designated 10, for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball 12 (FIG. 4).

Apparatus 10 includes a generally V-shaped member 14 having a concave surface 16 (FIG. 2) on a first leg portion 18 which is engageable with an inner surface 20 of an index finger 22 (FIG. 4) and a concave surface 24 on a second leg portion 26 which engages an inner surface 28 of a middle finger 30 for spreading apart such index finger 22 and such middle finger 30.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, such generally V-shaped member 14 may be hinged adjacent a lower portion thereof.

A first generally cylindrical C-shaped member 32 is connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge 34 of the first leg portion 18 adjacent an outer end 36 thereof. Such first generally cylindrical C-shaped member 32 forms a slot like portion 38 disposed closely adjacent a second edge 40 of the first leg portion 18 adjacent such outer predetermined edge 34 thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a user.

There is a second generally cylindrical C-shaped member 42 connected along one edge 44 thereof to a predetermined edge 46 of the second leg portion 26 adjacent an outer end 48 thereof. The second generally cylindrical C-shaped member 42 having a slot like portion 50 disposed closely adjacent a second edge 52 of such second leg portion 26 adjacent the outer edge 46 thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a user.

In the presently most preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus 10 will further include a liner 54 disposed over each of an inner surfaces 16 and 24, respectively, of such first generally cylindrical C-shaped member 32 and such second generally cylindrical C-shaped member 42 and such concave surfaces 16 and 24, respectively, of each of said first leg portion 18 and such second leg portion 26. Preferably, such liner 54 is formed from an elastomeric material.

The apparatus 10 can formed from a predetermined material selected from the group consisting of plastic and aluminum. It is presently preferred from a cost and formability standpoint for the material to be plastic and preferably such plastic will have a memory. Additionally, it is presently preferred that the generally V-shaped member will exhibit a predetermined angle of at least about 15.0 degrees.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball, said apparatus comprising: (a) a generally V-shaped member having a concave surface on a first leg portion engageable with an inner surface of an index finger and a concave surface on a second leg portion engageable with an inner surface of a middle finger for spreading apart such index and middle fingers; (b) a first generally cylindrical C-shaped member connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge of said first leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof, said first generally cylindrical C-shaped member having a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of said first leg portion adjacent said outer edge thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a user; and (c) a second generally cylindrical C-shaped member connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge of said second leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof, said second generally cylindrical C-shaped member having a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of said second leg portion adjacent said outer edge thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a user.
 2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a liner disposed over each of an inner surface of said first and said second generally cylindrical C-shaped members and said concave surface of each of said first and said second leg portions.
 3. An apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said liner is an elastomeric material.
 4. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is formed from a predetermined material selected from the group consisting of plastic and aluminum.
 5. An apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined material is plastic.
 6. an apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said plastic has a memory.
 7. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said generally V-shaped member has a predetermined angle of at least about 15.0 degrees.
 8. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said generally V-shaped member is hinged adjacent a bottom surface thereof. 